THEY DROVE AROUND for almost thirty minutes before making their way back to the house. The reception was in full swing and despite the desire to be alone, the newlyweds found themselves swept up in the celebration.

Christopher handed them each a glass of champagne as they entered the ballroom. Once dinner was served and the cake cut, the dancing began. Victoria was thrilled to be back in Quincy’s arms.

“I missed you, Rebel.”

Victoria wrinkled her nose. “Already?”

“Yes, already,” he whispered as he pulled her closer. “I haven’t been able to touch you for almost an hour.”

They danced to three tunes and then she was pulled away by Sophie to change. Victoria followed her up the stairs and found breeches sitting on the bed. “What are these?”

“We all have a pair, it’s our little tradition.” Sophie held them up. “You’re going somewhere special, so don’t bother with hoops.”

Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Where are we going?”

“My lips are sealed,” Sophie said.

“What about clothes?”

“You’re worse than Emma! Everything has been taken care of,” Sophie assured her.

Sophie helped her out of her gown and into her traveling outfit. They walked downstairs and found Quincy waiting for her. He held his hand out to her and grinned. “Ready?”

Victoria nodded and took his hand. Outside, Rocky whinnied and Victoria looked at Quincy in question.

He kissed her cheek. “You’ll see soon enough, sweetheart.”

She mounted and waited for him to do the same and then waved to their guests and Quincy led them toward the lake.

“We’re going to the lake?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps.”

She grunted but was quickly swept up in the ride. They ended up at the south side of the lake, an area she’d never seen before, and they came upon a clearing with a small log cabin in the middle of it. Victoria gasped. “I had no idea this was here! How did I miss it?”

“Richard and Jamie have been building it for the past six months. Richard uses it when the house is full. For the next two days, however, it’s ours.”

“Quinn,” she whispered. “Thank you!”

He led them to the cabin and dismounted. Victoria did the same and let out a little squeal when Quincy lifted her in his arms and kissed her as he carried her over the threshold and into the tiny cabin. The evening was quite cool, but the fire in the corner of the room had been lit, along with several of the sconces on the walls.

“Who did all this?” she asked.

“Jamie and Sophie.”

Before Victoria could take in her surroundings, soft lips covered hers. The distraction worked, and she grasped the lapels of Quincy’s jacket, losing her sanity in the moment.

Between kisses he asked, “Would you like some champagne?”

Kissing him back greedily, she gasped out, “No.” She pushed his jacket from his shoulders.

Victoria felt a quiver in her belly when his eyes, dark with desire, held her gaze. “Is there anything I can get for you?” he asked as he pulled the pins from her hair.

“You can get your clothes off,” she said, and began to unbutton his shirt.

He chuckled and kissed her again, grasping her hands when she tugged at the waistband of his pants. “Let’s go slowly, Rebel.”

“Such a waste of time to go slowly.” She grinned and twirled a finger in the air. “Turn your back.”

Although he raised an eyebrow in question, he did as she asked. The rustle of fabric echoed in the quiet room as she slipped out of her skirts. The only other sound was the occasional pop from the wood in the fireplace. Victoria took a deep breath and smoothed out her hair before settling her hands on her hips. “You can turn around now.”

Quincy’s eyes widened, and she heard his sharp intake of breath. “What are you wearing?”

“This is a bra, and these are what we call boy shorts.” She jutted out her hip and glanced down at the ground. “They are modern-day underwear.”

“Modern day?”

“Future day might be a better description.” She slid her fingers through her hair, knowing the action gave her body a nice line. “No one wears a corset anymore. In the future, anyway.”

Quincy closed the distance between them and laid his hands on her waist. “Do you... did you... wear these every day?”

She slid her hands up his bare chest. “Every day, honey.”

“Here? Have you worn them here?” he choked out.

“Occasionally.” She kissed his chest. “Would you like me to tell you when?” He nodded and leaned down to kiss her neck. Victoria kissed his shoulder, just over his scar. “Remember the day you came back?”

“From D.C.?”

She nodded. “Mm, hmm.”

Quincy groaned as she kissed his chest. “And you had just returned from the lake?”

“Yes. Exactly.” She glanced up at him. “I was wearing a dark blue bra and bikini bottoms under my dress.”

“What are bikini bottoms?”

Victoria grinned at his shortness of breath. “They’re like these”—she slid her finger under the waistband of her underwear and let it go with a quiet snap—“only higher at the hips.”

Quincy slid his finger where hers had just been and Victoria gasped as he ran it along her abdomen.

“And I was wearing a different type of underwear when I found you on the field,” she whispered, never removing her gaze from his.

He raised an eyebrow. “I wondered why I didn’t feel a corset.”

Victoria leaned away from him. “Did you try to feel me up, Mr. Butler?”

“If that means, did I move my hands over places that perhaps I shouldn’t have? Then yes, Mrs. Butler, I did try to feel you up.” His voice roughened when he said her name.

Victoria giggled and kissed him. His fingertips whispered over her collarbone and to her shoulders. He slipped a finger under one strap and slid the band down her arm, and then repeated the motion on the opposite side.

Emboldened, she reached behind and slipped the hooks, before leaning back again. Letting the garment fall to the ground, she heard his deep intake of breath and smiled.

“You are exquisite, Rebel,” he whispered as he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. Stretching out beside her, he cupped her breast and drew a nipple gently into his mouth, then the other. He knew he needed to go slow, but he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to. He’d never been with a virgin... not even when he’d been one himself.

Kissing her, he slid his hand under her strange pantaloons and between her legs, sliding a finger through her wetness and running it up to her clitoris. Victoria mewled, arching into his touch. He stepped off the mattress and tugged her underwear off, throwing them in the corner, before gripping her thighs and burying his face between her legs.

Victoria moaned, weaving her hands in his hair and moving against his mouth. He applied pressure with his tongue on her clitoris and then moved it down, lapping at her entrance, moving back to suck on her clit.

“Quinn,” she panted, her hands now pulling his hair gently. “I...oh, God, baby...” Her body locked and he felt her legs quiver as her orgasm overtook her.

Not wanting to lose the momentum, he shifted so he was hovering above her, then sliding into her slowly, the feel of her maidenhead stopping him.

“I’m okay,” she whispered.

He gave a short thrust, heard her hiss, and stopped again, leaning down to kiss her gently. He cupped her breast and rolled her nipple between his fingers, waiting for her body to respond. She arched into his touch again, and he began to move.

He buried himself deep, waiting for her to relax and as soon as she wrapped her legs around his waist, he linked his fingers with hers and dragged her arms above her head, kissing her again.

Her quiet little moans spurred him on, but when she started to cry out his name, he slammed into her over and over until she screamed, and he felt her climax. With one final thrust, he joined her and kissed her again as he pulled her close.

The last rays of the sun forced their way through the tiny window, and Quincy stroked her cheek. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you certain?”

Victoria folded herself onto his chest and laid her palm flat over his heart. “Quincy. That was the most amazing... wonderful... honestly, there aren’t adequate words.”

“Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “It hurt for less than a second, and then it was just magical. I really didn’t think I’d like it. I don’t know how anyone could ever complain. It’s the best thing in the world.”

He ran a lock of her hair through his fingers. “Why didn’t you think you’d like it, sweetheart?”

Victoria shrugged. “Just the way it was always described by my mother. As more of a duty. Not something pleasurable.”

“And was it pleasurable?”

She grinned up at him. “Wasn’t I making the right noises?”

“You liked it then?”

She laughed and kissed him. “I loved it. I want it every day. Can you handle that?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Staring up at him, she stroked his cheek. “You are my favorite person in all the world.”

Quincy chuckled. “I can say with certainty that I feel the same way about you. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, Quinn. I’m better than fine, actually.” She sat up. “And I’m hungry.”

Sitting up behind her, he kissed her shoulder. “Let me heat water for a bath, and we’ll eat.”

“Sounds perfect.”

They climbed off the bed and Victoria gasped. Quincy turned with a frown. “What’s amiss, sweetheart?”

“I just wasn’t expecting that much...” She pointed to the evidence of her virginity. “Do we have fresh sheets?”

“Yes, right over there.” He pointed to the corner.

“Okay, you heat the water and I’ll change the bed.” She rummaged through their bag for a robe, managing to only find one of Quincy’s shirts.

“Rebel?”

“Hm?”

“You’re blushing.” Quincy pulled her close and stroked her cheek. “Are you embarrassed?”

“A little.”

“Don’t be.” He took the shirt from her and pulled it over her head. “I love that you’re mine and mine only.”

Quincy kissed her gently, then pulled on his pants and padded to the wood stove to heat water for a bath. She smiled as she watched him work, loving the view. His bare chest was smooth and tanned, the scar on his shoulder now almost invisible, but the memory of how they met made her smile. She loved this man, more than she could have ever thought possible.

She pulled the sheet from the bed, threw it into the corner of the room, and laid the new sheet on the bed. She had trouble securing it to the mattress.

“Honey? Can you grab a corner, please?” Quincy walked over to the bed and helped her finish making it. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Pulling her close, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “The water’s ready. Would you like to eat or bathe first?”

“Eat.”

He kissed her nose and then they sat at the small table in the middle of the cabin and enjoyed a light meal of cold chicken and an assortment of fruit. Quincy poured water into tin cups and handed her one.

Sipping the cool water, she asked, “What will we do when we return to D.C.?”

“I’ve informed my tenants that I’ll need the house back. I gave them sixty days to vacate. I’d like to make some changes to it once they leave, but will need your input. I want it to feel like your home, not just mine. If it’s acceptable, we’ll stay with Christopher and Hannah until then.”

She smiled and looked down at her plate. “Yes, that’s fine.”

“Did you have something else in mind?”

“Hm?” She glanced back at him. “Oh, no.”

“What’s amiss? Do you not want to live in the house?”

“No... nothing like that. I guess I just feel slightly overwhelmed with everything. Now that I have time to reflect and my world has calmed, things just seem overwhelming, you know?”

Quincy reached out and squeezed her hand. “Are you unhappy?”

She rose to her feet and stood in front of him. “Not at all. I love you, and the fact that I get to spend the rest of my life with you is more than I ever hoped for. I can’t really put it into the right words. I’m sorry, I’m botching this a bit. It’s just that...” She hesitated. “Sometimes I have these premonitions, but they’re not always clear.”

He laid his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. “Did you have another dream?”

“No, no dreams. Just an unsettling feeling. It’ll pass. Truly.”

Running his hands under the shirt, he lifted it over her head, revealing her flawless body. He leaned forward and kissed her stomach.

“Bath time,” he said, and lifted her into his arms.

“I think I can walk the three steps to the tub.” She laughed as he carried her. He set her into the hipbath and she sunk down as far as she could. “I wish we could figure out a way to make a shower.”

Quincy hunkered down beside her. “Do you mean a rain shower?”

“Yes, sort of. In the future, we have indoor bathrooms, which usually consist of a toilet, bathtub, sink, and shower.”

“Toilet?”

“It’s an indoor privy. A chamber pot that cleans itself. So much more sanitary, let me tell you.” She gave him a quick explanation of how toilets and showers worked. His expression grew reflective, and Victoria laid her hand on his arm. “What’s going on in your brain, Gus?”

“I’m just trying to envision a bathroom.”

Victoria giggled. “It’s pretty cool.”

Quincy handed her rose-scented soap and dipped a washcloth in the water. Soaping up the cloth, he gently began to wash her. She leaned back and relaxed into his ministrations. Within minutes, she groaned and then stood. Quincy dropped the soap into the water. “What are you doing?”

She smiled down at him and crooked her finger. “Come here.”

“You’re not finished.”

“Whose fault is that? Come here.”

Standing, he wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her from the tub, and carried her to the bed. “Not the bed, I just changed the sheets. They’ll get all wet.”

“I don’t care,” he said.

He made love to her one more time and then wrapped his arms around her and stroked her back. Within minutes, he heard the evenness of her breathing, kissed her shoulder as he pulled the covers up around them, and watched as the setting sun sent shadows of twilight creeping through the four windows of the cabin. Finally, he allowed himself to sleep when the moon rose and filled the small cabin with light.

* * *

Victoria couldn’t breathe.

Darkness surrounded her, squeezed her, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Recognizing immediately that she was in some kind of dream, she tried to calm her racing heart. A breeze, cold and damp, whispered across her face. The sound of a horse’s whinny carried to her as the wind got harder. “Rocky?” she whispered.

Another whinny.

“Rocky!” she called out to him and heard his hoof-beats.

Watching him as he ran towards her, she smiled. He was such a magnificent creature. His mane flew in the wind as he made his way toward her. In awe, she stood still and quiet. All of a sudden, he stumbled. “Rocky? What’s wrong?”

He stumbled again and then went down hard. “Rocky! No!”

She ran. Faster and faster, but she couldn’t reach him. Her feet felt like they were mired in the clay. She scrabbled at the ground, trying to claw her way forward. He was dying. She knew it. Why couldn't she get to him?

“Rocky!”

“Rocky!”

Feeling strong arms envelop her, she tried to push away.

“Victoria? Sweetheart, wake up.”

Opening tear-filled eyes, she looked into the concerned face of her husband, mere inches from hers.

“It was a dream, sweetheart,” he said softly as he stroked her face.

She sobbed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Something’s going to happen to Rocky.”

“Shhh. It was a dream, Rebel.”

“No, he’s going to get hurt. Something terrible is going to happen to him.”

“He’s right outside. Would it make you feel better if we check on him?”

She nodded into his chest.

“All right. Come on. I’ll find your robe.”

He pulled his pants on and located her robe, then they padded their way outside the cabin and out to the makeshift covering for the horses. She called for Rocky and he whinnied. Perfectly fine and happy to see her. Victoria leaned against his shoulder, wrapped her arms around his neck, and stroked his face before handing him a lump of sugar.

“Feel better?” Quincy asked as he pulled her away from her horse.

“Yes, Gus. Thank you.”

He led her back into bed and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Sleep,” he ordered, and kissed her neck.

Nodding in consent, she fell asleep almost immediately, but true to form, woke before the sun, despite her restless night. Inching out of bed slowly, she tried her best not to jostle Quinn. She found her robe, donned it, and padded quietly to the kitchen window. She stood motionless and was once again treated to a glorious sunrise. Peace overtook her as she watched it climb over the horizon.

“Rebel?”

Turning, she looked over to the bed. Quincy, propped up on his elbow, was watching her. She went back to the bed, climbed in, and straddled his hips. She leaned over and gave him a lingering kiss. “Good morning, husband.”

Warm hands caressed her hips and moved around to cup her derriere. “Good morning, wife. How are you feeling?”

“Much better.” She laid her arms on his chest and rested her head on them. “What’s the plan for today?”

“Let me wake up first and I’ll tell you.”

Victoria giggled. “I thought the Butlers rose early.”

“We do, sweetheart. But, apparently the Carringtons have us beat.”

She kissed his chest. “Not really. I always woke up before my family as well.”

Quincy slipped his hand inside her robe, but she pulled his hand away.

“Nope. My turn,” she said, and kissed her way down his body. “Someone’s awake.” Wrapping her mouth around his cock, Quincy grunted in pleasure, and Victoria took him deeper, stroking him faster and faster until his hands slid under her armpits and she was dragged back up his body. With his guidance, she straddled him and he sat up, cupping her bottom as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

Quincy sucked one of her nipples in deep and her head dropped back as she rocked her hips. “Yes,” she whispered as he bit down gently.

He moved his hand between them and fingered her clit as she rode him, her breasts pressed against his chest while he anchored her to him with his free arm. Victoria groaned in frustration when he stalled her movement. “Slowly, sweetheart.”

“Why?” she demanded.

“Because I said so.”

Rather than irritating her, his bossiness excited her so she slowed her pace slightly, letting him work his magic. He fingered her clit and Victoria ground herself into his hand.

“Greedy,” he said with a chuckle.

“You’re so very good at that,” she panted, and continued to ride him. “I’m going to come.”

“Wait.”

She met his eyes and frowned. “I don’t want to.”

Quincy removed his hand and she hissed. He grinned. “You’re going to wait, Rebel.”

“Too late,” she breathed out, climaxing without warning, and shivering as she tightened her hold around his neck.

Quincy lifted her off him. “On your knees.”

Victoria bit her lip in excitement and did as he ordered, quickly rewarded with his cock sliding into her from behind. Gripping her hips, he slammed into her over and over again and she cried out as she came again, falling forward with him as he pulsed inside of her.

When Quincy rolled away from her, Victoria stretched like a very well-fed kitten. “Mmm. Will I get that every morning?”

“If you like,” he said as he kissed her neck.

She rolled onto her back and smiled up at him. “I absolutely like.”

Quincy chuckled. “It’s not a bad way to wake up.”

“No, it’s definitely not.”

Quincy stroked her stomach. “Are you hungry, sweetheart?”

“Starved.” She slid off the mattress. “If you get the fire in the stove going, I’ll make omelets.”

“Omelets?”

“You’ll see. I make a pretty mean one.”

He dressed quickly and grabbed some wood from the back porch while she put her robe back on and met him at the stove. “Do we have eggs?” she asked.

Pointing to the supplies Sophie had left, he said, “Everything we have is in the basket.”

Victoria peered inside and found eggs, cheese, butter, and oranges.

“Hm,” she said as she wrinkled her nose.

“No eggs?”

“There are eggs, but not much else. I wanted to wow you with my culinary skills, but we’ll just have to settle for cheese omelets.”

“I can’t wait,” Quincy said, and kissed her.

“Is there a skillet?”

“Yes, Sophie stocked the cabin with a few things. I think a skillet was one of those things.” He found her the pan and a few different utensils, including a wooden spoon and metal spatula.

“God bless Mrs. Ford.” Victoria gently pushed at his chest. “Go and sit, Gus, and I’ll serve you this time.”